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Clean Trucks Program Continues, Despite Lawsuit

Port officials push ahead with air quality, truck replacement program

The Port of Long Beach is committed to implementing its landmark Clean Trucks Program as scheduled, notwithstanding litigation filed today, July 28, 2008, by the American Trucking Association (ATA).

"Truck pollution is a serious threat to public health -- including the health of truck drivers," said Port Executive Director Richard D. Steinke. "We need to move forward without delay to improve air quality."

The Port of Long Beach's Clean Trucks Program was crafted carefully and the Port expects it to be validated by the courts, Steinke said. In the meantime, the Port's attorneys are reviewing the ATA lawsuit and will submit a formal response.

"We have worked closely with the trucking and shipping industries to develop a workable program. It is disappointing that the ATA is seeking to impede this critical air quality initiative," Steinke said. "Despite this litigation, we are still moving full speed ahead toward our goal of reducing pollution from the truck fleet by 80 percent by 2012."

The Port is encouraging trucking companies to sign up for the program, so that importers and exporters can be confident that sufficient trucks will be available to move their cargo during the peak shipping season this fall. Trucking companies (Licensed Motor Carriers, or LMCs) are now being enrolled through the Port's new concession program.

Under the Clean Trucks Program, older (pre-1989) trucks will be banned from calling at Port terminals by the Fall of 2008. By 2012, only approved "clean" trucks will be allowed to operate at the Port. To monitor the clean trucks, only LMCs with Port-approved concessions will be allowed access to Port shipping terminals beginning October 1, 2008. A generous financial assistance program will help truck owners replace or retrofit their old, polluting trucks. In addition, the Port of Long Beach's Healthy Drivers program will help LMCs meet health insurance requirements outlined in the program.